Casting machine



1937. H. B. LOCKWOOD ET AL,

CASTING MACHINE ori inal Filed Aug. 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V VE N T075 0 M; W w u 03 W m EA m Y9 fl. Z

1937-, H. B. LOCKWOOD ET AL 2,068,420

CASTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 5, 193 3 5 SheetsSheet 2 Jan. 19, 1937. H B LQCKWOOD ET AL CASTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIL ' Jan. 19, 1937. B LQCKWOIQD ET AL 2,068,420

CASTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 5; 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m Mama,

Array/v5 rs 1937. H. B. LOCKWOOD ET AL 2,068,420

CASTING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1933 24 gi II? A 5 Sheets$heet 5 flvvavrozs #14267) E AGCKWJOZ 144272 517 A. MLLHJFD W MM & ,ziufi Arrow/var;

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 CASTING MACHINE Harry B. Lockwood and Alfred R. Willard, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Willard Storage Battery Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of West Virginia Application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,878 Renewed December 5, 1935 26 Claims.

This invention relates to a casting machine, and especially to a semi-automatic machine adapted particularly for casting either single or double grids, preferably the latter.

At the present time, grids are cast almost entirely by hand-operated molds or by automatic machines. The manual operations in manipulating or operating the hand molds are laborious and run up the cost of the cast grids too high for present day competition since one operator can operate only one hand mold and must perform the following operations-close the mold lock the mold, pour the metal into the mold, squirt water on the pouring gate, unlock the mold, 15 open the mold, and remove the grid casting from the mold with pliers and place it on a table or other support.

There are many automatic machines in use at the present time, but these are satisfactory or adaptable only for plants having a large production of the type of grids being cast. I

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a semi-automatic machine which is adaptable for plants having a relatively small production, i. e., plants having production such that the automatic machines cannot be used to advantage, and which enables the grids to be produced much more economically than is possible with hand-operated molds.

A further object is to provide a semi-automatic casting machine which will perform automatically all the necessary operations, except the pouring and the starting of the cycle of operations which begins with the squirting of a measur.ed or predetermined quantity of water on the pouring gate (after the operator has poured the molten metal into the mold), the opening of the mold, the lowering of an automatic grid take-out into the open mold, the ejection of the grid from the stationary mold member, the lifting of the grid from the mold, the depositing of the same on rack rails,

the progressive pushing of the cast grids along the rails, the closing of the mold, and the stopping of the operating mechanism preparatory to the operator again filling the mold and the starting of the next cycle which is initiated by the operator pulling a suitable hand lever or operatmanual operations and the timing of the autois undergoing the automatic operations of the cycle, and vice-versa, thus reducing to practically a minimum the cost of the grids produced in a machine which is partially automatic and partially manually operated.

A still further object is to provide a casting machine of the character described which is rugged and reliable in operation, with the parts so constructed and operated that they are not likely to get out of order and admit of continuous operation so that the output in a given time per operator and per machine or plurality of machines which he attends will be large and the cost per grid relatively small.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein we have shown the preferred embodimentof our invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken.

substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing particularly the actuating mechanism for the,

of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, but omitting other'parts for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view substantially along the line |-|0 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a View largely diagrammatic, illustrating the manner in which water is delivered onto the molten metal in the mold, and also illustrating the manner in which dripping of water from the nozzle is avoided;

Fig. 12 is a view of the crankshaft showing thereon a clutch and various elements which are actuated by the rotation of the shaft;

Fig. 13 is a view of one of the transverse shafts which supports part of the operating elements; and

Fig. 14 is a view showing the so-called cycle shaft with the operating elements mounted thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitable frame IS on which all the mechanism of the machine is supported and at the front of which is the mold Hi. This mold is composed of two parts consisting of a stationary mold member |6a and a movable mold member lib which is mounted for swinging movement into and out of engagement with the stationary mold member, the movable member |6b being in this instance carried by a frame |6c pivotally mounted on studs |6d so that it may swing back and forth between the closed position shown in Fig. 1 and open position shown in Fig. 2. If desired, a guard, indicated at IT, may be mounted on the studs |6d to cover or partially cover the mold for safety purposes.

Cut or otherwise formed on the adjacent faces of the two mold members are the mold cavities lie for the article to be cast, in this instance twin storage battery grids I8 which are provided with lugs at their two upper corners and are adapted to be cut in two and trimmed for use in batteries in the well known manner. At the top of the machine are rack rails I9 onto which the cast grids are adapted to be transferred from the mold by automatic mechanism to be described, the grids hanging down between the rails and being adapted to be supported thereon in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The rails are secured by bolts to the top of the frame, the boltspreferably passing through elongated slots either in the base of the rails or in the frame so that the spacing or distance between the rails can be varied to adapt the machine for different sizes of grids. Leading to the mold cavities and formed partially in each member at the top of the mold is a pouring gate 6] into which the molten metal is poured manually by the operator.

The mechanism for opening and closing the mold and for performing all the other automatic functions is actuated by two shafts 20 and 2|, both of which extend horizontally across the rear I part of the frame I 5, as best shown in Fig. 1.

The shaft 20, which is actuated ,for a portion of the time only during the cycle of operations, is provided at its outer ends with cranks 22 for opening and closing the mold and hence, for convenience, this shaft is termed the crankshaft although, in addition to the mold actuating cranks 22, it has two actuating cams 23 and 24, the former for actuating the grid ejector and the latter for actuating the grid take-out and stacking mechanism. The shaft 2|, which rotates throughout the cycle of automatic operations, for convenience will be termed the cycle shaft. The

2 cycle shaft 2| carries three cams 25 26 and 21 (see Figs. 1 and l4). Cam 25 operates the water valve to be referred to, cam 26 throws in the clutch which starts the operation of the crankshaft 20, and cam 21 controls the mechanism which actuates the clutch to stop the cycle shaft at the end of the cycleof operations.

Before describing the mechanism which operates the crankshaft 20 and the cycle shaft 2| and the various mechanisms which are actuated by the cams, we will briefly describe the manner in which the cranks 22 operate the movable mold member. These cranks are connected to crossheads 28 (see Figs. 1 and 3) which have a short sliding movement on connecting rods 29 the forward ends of which are connected to opposite sides of the movable mold member |6b. On the rods in front of the cross-heads are fixed but adjustable abutments 30 which the cross-heads engage to positively open the mold, and at the rear of the cross-heads on the rods are stiff coil springs 3|, the rear ends engaging fixed but adjustable abutments 32. The springs insure the tight closing of the mold, and, at the same time, should anything get in between the two mold members during the closing movement, the springs will yield and prevent breakage of any part of the machine. The connection between the connecting rods 29 and the movable mold member is made in a novel manner, as indicated in Fig. 1, from which it will be observed that the connecting rods are provided near their forward ends with blocks 29a having slots .in their lower sides which receive trunnions 29b located on opposite sides of the movable mold member. The trunnions are held in these slots by latches 290 which can be withdrawn by moving latch operating fingers 29d extending underneath handles 29c which extend a short distance beyond the blocks 29a. It will be seen that by withdrawing the latches the con necting rods can be readily disengaged from the movable mold member which can then swing down to horizontal position. This is desirable when it becomes necessary to recoat the mold faces.

Passing now to the mechanism for actuating the crankshaft 20 and the cycle shaft 2|, the power for operating the machine is derived from a small electric motor 33 mounted on the lower part of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. This motor, through reducing gearing including a gear 34 .(Fig. I), constantly drives, as long as the motor is running, a shaft 34a of two aligned shafts, the other of which is designated 34b (see Figs. 1 and 6), which shafts are adapted to be connected by any commercial or standard form of clutch 34w, which may be termed the main clutch todistinguish it from another clutch which is on thecrankshaft. The clutch 343: includes a clutch yoke 340 (Fig. 1), the shafts projecting outwardly from the oppositevends of a clutch casing 34d which is mounted in the lower part of the frame near one corner thereof, as shown in Fig. l. Slidable in the top of the casing 3411 is a clutch shifting slide bar 34e which is connected to the yoke 340 in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, this clutch shifting bar being indicated also in Figs. 6 and '7. The manner in which this shifting bar 34c is actuated will be explained presently.

The outer or clutch driven shaft 34b carries a sprocket wheel at its outer end and is connected by chain and sprocket gearing 35 to an upper shaft 36 which, in this instance, is a worm shaft connected by standard worm reduction gearing in a case 36a supported in the'upper rear part of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1, where the worm gearing is indicated by dotted lines. The worm wheel of this reduction gearing is mounted on a shaft 36b which is directly beneath the crankshaft 20 and parallel to the crankshaft 2 0 and the cycle shaft 2|, as clearly shown in, Fig. 1. This shaft, at one end, has a relatively large gear 360 which meshes with a gear 36d at one end of the crankshaft 20. The other end of the shaft 3% has a pinion 36c which meshes with a gear 36f on the cycle shaft 2|. Thus the crankshaft 20, which is connected to the shaft 361) by one-to-one gearing, rotates faster than the cycle shaft 2|, but the gear 36d on the crankshaft rotates freely thereon for a portion of the cycle and is clutched thereto at the proper instant and again unclutched in the manner to be explained.

When the operator wishes to start the machine in operation, i. e., initiate the cycle of operations after he has filled the mold with molten metal, he pulls a hand lever 31 which stands up alongside themachine, after Whichhe at once releases the same and gives his attention to filling the mold of another machine since the cycle of operations will continue, and, when completed, the machine will be stopped by the automatic disengagement of the main clutch 34$. This hand lever 31 is fixed to one end of a rock shaft 310. (see particularly Fig. 5) mounted in a bearing in the lower part of the frame, and secured to'this rock shaft is an upstanding arm 31b alongside of which but loose on the rock shaft is a similar arm 310. The fixed arm 31b has a lip on one edge projecting over in the plane of the loose arm 310 so that when the lever 31 is moved in one direction (inthe direction to start the cycle of operations) the loose arm 310 is shifted in the same direction, but when the lever 31 is released and is restored to its former position by a spring 31d, the loose arm 310 is free to remain in the position to which it was shifted. This loose arm 310 has near its upper end an opening which is slightly elongated vertically to clutch yoke 34c and cause the engagement of the clutch 34m, a pivoted latch 31h, which is pivotally mounted'on the clutch casing 34d, drops or is pulled down by spring 31k connected to the latch so that its forward end, which may consist of a roller, drops in behind the shoulder 31g on the head of the slide bar 346. So long as this latch remains in the position stated, the clutch 34a: remains engaged and normally remains in that position until the cycle of operations is completed,when it is automatically disengaged in the manner hereinafter explained, whereupon the clutch controlling slide bar 34e is retracted and the clutch is disengaged by the action of a spring 31m connected to a bracket 3111 attached to the am) 310, the parts then assuming the position shown in Fig. 7. The mechanism by which the latch is withdrawn. automatically, and. also by the foot of the operator in case of emergency, will be explained presently. 1

,As soon as the mainclu'tch 34a; is engaged, the

cycle shaft begins its rotation, and 5 immediately thereafter the first automatic operation or step of I the cycle is performed, i e., a measured or pre determined amount of water is squirted onto the molten metal in'the pouring gate.- For this purpose there is-provided on the frame i5 9,- suit b water valve 38 which is preferably a valve of the plunger type opened by depressing a plunger and closed by a spring. This valve is connected to a water inlet pipe 38a and a water outlet pipe 38b (not completely shown) which extends up to the upper part of themold and has a delivery end or nozzle 38:: positioned on top of the stationary mold member Iiia-in position to deliver water onto the metal in the pouring gate so that the metal will be quickly chilled and congealed. The

pipe preferably is so arranged that a suction siphoning effect is created on the delivery nozzle so that there will be no dripping of water after the shot of water for cooling purposes is delivered onto the metal in the pouring gate. This avoids the liability of water dripping into the mold while closed and before the molten metal is poured into it, and therefore avoids the liability of injury to the operator or to the machine, as would very likely result from pouring molten metal into a mold containing water, since steam would be created immediately and would force the molten metal back out of the mold. The suction re ferred to to pull back the water in the delivery nozzle 38c and to prevent it from dripping into the mold can be created by simply causing the water passing from the valve to be delivered to a branch pipe 38d (Fig. 11) as well as to the nozzle periphery by. a roller 39 carried by a lever 39a" pivoted on an arm of the pump supporting bracket 39b. The lever 39a carries a pin which, when the roller 39 andthe lever are depressed, pushes down on the valve plunger. Of course, when permitted by the cam 25, the valve is automatically closed. k

The next operation of the cycle is performed by cam 26 on the cycle shaft 2|. 'I'hatoperation is to cause the engagement of the, clutch 401: (Fig. 12) on the crankshaft to initiate its rotation. We might say that the clutch which may be termed the crankshaft clutch is employed on shaft 20 to clutch gear 36d to the shaft is prefpose stated requires only mechanical operation of a link 40b to-a 'seco nd arm dllc'which is pivoted at its lower end on a suitable part of the frame of H the machine and atilts upper end is arranged and' formed so as to.,., ause the ,erigagementpf the crankshaft clutch, whereupon thelatter is started in rotation. The rotation "of this shaft" througl'i-1 the medium'of thetranks 2,12,.and'. the-lrods -lg} previously described opens the ;mold, the rnold being fully open whenthe cranks. have made one-a.

half revolution, and then closes the mold during the next half revolution.

As soon as the mold is opened appreciably, the next operation, i. e., the lowering of the take-out and stacking mechanism, is performed through the medium of cam 24 By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that cam 24 is engaged by a roller 42 which is carried near the upper end of a lever arm 42a pivoted at its lower end to a suitable bracket carried by the frame, a spring 421) being connected to the lever arm to hold the roller arm in engagement with the cam. Beyond the roller the lever arm 42a is bent angularly and at its extreme upper end is connected by a link 420 to an arm 42d which rocks shaft 4 I. Secured to this shaft near opposite sides of the frame I of the machine are two arms 426 on the hub of one of which the arm 42d is formed, these arms 42e extending forwardly in parallel relation on opposite sides of the rack rails l9. Rotatably supported in the extreme forward ends of these arms is a shaft 42) mounted so as to be capable of slight rocking movement in the arms, and secured to this shaft 42] just inside of the arms 42e are two depending grid lifters 429 provided with hooks at their lower ends. Secured to one end of shaft 42f is an upward extension or arm 42h, and to the upper end of this extension is pivoted a rod 42k which lies above one of the parallel arms 42c in substantial parallelism therewith and at its rear end is pivoted to an upwardly extending projection of a rocker 42m pivotally supported on the side of the last mentioned arm 42e (note particularly Figs. 1 and 2) This rocker has two other extensions, one of which projects rearwardly and carries an adjustable abutment 4211 the lower end of which is adapted :to engage one of the side rails at the top of the frame l5 when the grid lifting arms 42e approach the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to rock the rocker 42m and throw the lower ends of the grid lifters 42g close to the face of the stationary mold member l6a or to the position shown in Fig. 2 at the end of the downward stroke of the arms 426. A spring 42p has its forward end attached to the rod 42k, and has its rear end attached tothe adjacent arm 42e (see particularly Figs. 2 and 3). The arrangement is such that, when the grid take-out and stacker arms 42c swing downwardly to receive a cast grid, just before the arms reach their lowermost position the screw or adjustable abutment 4212 engages the top of the frame, slightly rocking the rocker 42112, with the result that the rod 42k is pushed forward slightly, stretching the spring 42p and moving. the hooked lower ends of the lifters in close to the face of the stationary mold member, as illustrated in Fig. 2, but when the grid is delivered to the hooks of the lifters 42g and the arms 42c start on their upward travel, as soon as the adjustable abutment 4212 moves out of engagement with the top of the frame, the rocker 42m is restored to its former position by the spring 42p, whereupon the lower ends of the lifters swing outwardly somewhat so that in their upward movement they and the grid supported by them will not come in contact with the front face of the stationary mold member. When the arms 42c are at substantially the end of their upward travel and are nearly in the position shown in Fig. l, the third extension of the rocker engages an adjustable abutment 42q, preferably in the form of a screw, carried at the top of a bracket 421' mounted on one of the side rails of the frame, and again the rocker is shifted on its pivot, swinging the lifters 42g inwardly, thereby throwing the grid out of the hooked lower ends of the lifters so that the lugs opposite at upper corners of the grid will engage and rest upon the side rails IQ of the stacker, the body of the grid hanging down between the rails in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The lifters 429, though normally fixed on the shaft 421, are adjustable thereon, the main purpose of this adjustment being to permit the spacing or distance between the lifters to be varied to suit different sizes of grids, it being remembered that the stacking rails l9 are adjustable also for this same purpose.

A stacking or pushing action is next imparted to the grids on the rail by a pair of levers 42s which are pivoted intermediate their ends on the forward upright supports for the rails I9 and have their lower ends connected by links 42t to the swinging arms 42c, the action being such that, when the arms 42e swing downwardly, the upper ends of the levers 42s swing alongside and slightly above the outer faces of the rails l9 and engage the lugs on the endmost grid and push the stack back along the rails. rails are full of grids, the grids will be removed therefrom by the attendant or otherwise, as desired.

We might add at this point that the inward swinging movement of the lifters 429 just as they approach the position shown in Fig. 4, which movement is designed to throw the grids supported on the lower ends of the lifters from the hooks onto the rails, as explained above, may be accentuated somewhat by the shape which is given to the cam 24 if the action of the rocker 42m is not sufficient for this purpose.

A point to be noted in passing is that when the take-out arms 42e are lifted to elevate the grid from the position shown in Fig. 3, neither the grid nor the lower ends of the lifters 42g engage the stationary mold member, as would be the case if the lifters 42g and the arms 42c were in fixed angular relation during the upward swinging of the arms 42e, as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2. However, the rocker and the parts associated therewith prevent this and also serve the other function stated, namely, to cause the delivery of the grid from the lower ends of the hooks onto the rails.

When the lifters reach the lowered position shown in Fig. 2, the grid is ejected from the stationary mold member, and, in so doing, the lugs at the corners of the grid drop into the hooks, as explained above. However, before describing the ejecting mechanism, we might state that though the mold cavity is formed equally in When the both mold members, when the mold opens the casting remainsin the. cavity of the stationary mold member, as is desired, this result being obtained by nicking the face of the cavity in the stationary mold member so as to throw up the equivalent of burrs, the latter serving to hold the grid in the stationary mold member until the ejectors act on the grid and eject it therefrom,

forward to eject the grids, extend outwardly beyond the face of the stationary mold member a short distance, as indicated in Fig. 2. The rear ends of these pins are connected to an ejector holder 43a in the form of a casting having bosses 43b slidable on stationary guide pins 430 projecting in parallel relation rearwardly from the frame immediately behind the stationary mold member. The rearward movement of the ejector pin holder is limited by adjustable abutments 43d on the guide pins 430, these abutments being preferably in the form of nuts and lock nuts, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Additionally, the ejector pins 43 are individually adjustable in the plate portion of the holder casting, as is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. The ejector holder is actuated by cam 23 fixed to the crank shaft, the periphery of the cam being engaged by a roller 43c carried by one of two lever arms 43 depending from a sleeve 43g loosely mounted on shaft 4|. The lower ends of the two arms 43 are connected by links 43h to the ejector pin holder, these links preferably being provided with turnbuckles 43k for purposes of adjustment. A spring 43m keeps the roller 430 in engagement with the cam 23 and thus causes the retraction of the ejector pins as soon as the grid has been ejected.

It will be understood that the lowering of the take-out mechanism, the ejection of the grid, and

the lifting and stacking of the grid occur while the movable mold member isswung to open and then to closed position by the rotation of the cranks 22, and when the movable mold member is again restored to its closed position, the cranks 22 and the crankshaft 20 which carries them have completed one revolution, whereupon the gear 36d is automatically unclutched from the crankshaft.

The cycle of operations, in so far as the forming and stacking of the 'grids is concerned, is completed when the crankshaft clutch is disengaged upon the closure of the mold, and there is next performed the last of the series of automatic operations of the cycle, the disengagement of the main-clutch 34:1: to stop the machine. This is Iperformed by cam 21 on the cycle shaft 2 I. This cam is engaged by a roller 44 carried by a substantially horizontally projecting lever 44a pivotally supported at its forward end on the forward part of the frame. Pivoted to and depending from the lever 44a is a clutch disengaging rod 44b provided near its lower end with a hook 440 which is adapted to engage under a pin (1 projecting laterally from the latch 31h previously described. When the main clutch is engaged and the cycle of operations is being performed, the hook 440 lies under the pin 44d, as shown in Fig. 6, and when the cam Z'I'comes into action, it swings the free end of arm 44a. upwardly and lifts the rod 44b so that the hook 440 under the pin 44d of the latch 31h will lift the latter and elevate the roller at the free end thereof from behind the shoulder 319 at the head of the slide bar 34c so that the latter may be retracted by spring 31m and thus disengage main clutch 343:.

When the clutch 34a: is disengaged, the slide bar occupies the position shown in Fig. '7, with the roller at the free end of latch 31h resting on top of the shoulder of the head 31 of the slide bar, but in order that the latch may later drop down to latching position with the roller behind the shoulder 31g of the slide, the hook 440 on the rod 44b must be freed from the pin 44d of the latch. To accomplish this, we provide a disengager in the form of a spring hook Me (see Figs.

6 and 7) which is mounted on top of the case 34d of main clutch 34x and has 'a free projecting portion so formed and located that when the rod 44b is pulled upwardly by the action of cam 21, a pin 44f, which is carried by the rod 44b a short distance above the hook 0, engages this spring hook, with the result that the rod 44b is cammed laterally so that the hook Me is moved laterally from beneath the pin Md on the latch at or about the time that the roller at the free end of the latch is lifted clear of the shoulder 31g on the clutch shifting slide bar 34c and the rod 44b is retained in this position by the spring hook until after the'latch again drops behind the shoulder of the slide bar when the operator again shifts the main lever 31 to initiate the next cycle of operations. Then during this cycle of operations, when it is permitted so to do, the rod 44b again drops down and swings laterally until the lower end of the rod comes into engagement with a pin 44g on the slide bar 34c, the pin 44g being so positioned that when the lower end of the rod engages it, the hook or shoulder 440 will lie beneath the pin Mdof the latch. In other words, the rod 441), with its shoulder or hook Me, is now again in position to lift the latch so as to allow the main clutch 34.1: to be disengaged after completion of the cycle.

We prefer to provide also controllable means to lift the latch 31h and disengage the main clutch 34a: whenever it is desired to stop the machine in case of emergency. For this purpose we provide, along the side of the machine at which the operator normally stands, a depressible rail 45 which is normally held by 'a spring 45min the position shown in Fig. 5. The rail, which is mounted for rocking movement on a rod 451) supported by the frame of the machine has an inwardly projecting arm 450 with an upstanding pin 45d arranged so that when the rail 45 is depressed by the foot of the operator, the pin 45d is elevated so as to swing the latch 31h upwardly and cause the disengagement of the clutch 34:0 and the instant stopping of the ma chine.

' A brief rsum of the operation of the machine follows. Assuming that the machine is stopped and the mold is closed, the operator pours from a ladle which he dips into a nearby pot enough molten metal to fill the mold cavity. He then pulls the lever 31 and releases it, the result of the movement of the lever being to engage the main clutch 34:): which starts the machine in operation, it being understood that the motor runs continuously until the operation of the machine is to be discontinued. The first operation performed by the machine is the squirting of a predetermined amount of water on the metal in the pouring gate through the manipulation of the valve 38 by the cam 25 on the cycle shaft. The metal congeals quickly and very shortly after the shot of water is delivered to the metal in the pouring gate, the cam 26 causes the engagement of the clutch on the cam shaft, whereupon the latter starts its rotation, the mold opens with the grid remaining on the rails, the grids on the rails being pushed back by the pusher levers 42s when the takeout levers again swing downward, during the next cycle of operations. The opening and closing swinging movements of the mold are continuous, the mold again closing right after the lifters lift the grid and deposit it on the rails l9. As soon as the mold closes with the mold members held in tight engagement by the springs 3| at the ends of the connecting rods 29, the crankshaft is automatically unclutched but the cycle shaft continues its rotation for a brief interval long enough to permit the cam 21 to cause the disengagement of the main clutch 34x, whereupon the machine stops until the next cycle is initiated. These various automatic operations are performed quite rapidly, with the result that the machine is capable of turning out grids very rapidly, but, notwithstanding this, the casting is allowed to remain in the mold long enough so that the mold will have a certain annealing action on the metal and the grids will lack the brittleness which is characteristic of most grids produced heretofore.

We have shown and described hereinthe preferred construction which operates with very high efficiency and produces grids of very good quality, but we do not desire to be confined to the precise details and arrangements shown as changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. We therefore aim in our claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a casting machine, a mold comprising a; pair of relatively movable mold members, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting the casting from the mold, and take-out mechanism for the casting, said mechanism having means movable into the space between the open mold members for engaging and catching the casting immediately after it is ejected from the mold and for elevating it from between the mold members. 2. In a casting machine, a mold comprising a pair of relatively movable mold members adapted to be opened and closed, means for ejecting the casting from the mold, means for receiving and supporting the cast articles, and take-out mechanism movable downwardly into, the space between the mold members when the mold is opened for receiving the casting and for delivering it to the receiving and supporting means, said takeout mechanism having means for engaging and catching the casting afier it is ejected from the mold. I

3. In a casting machine, a mold comprising a pair of movable mold members, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting the casting from the mold, rails at the top of the machine, and take-out mechanism having means adapted to be lowered into the open mold to receive a casting when it is ejected from the mold, and means for actuating said mechanism so as to deliver the castings one at a time onto said rails.

4. In a casting machine, a mold comprising relatively movable mold members, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting the casting from one of the mold members, take-out mechanism including members adapted to be moved downwardly into the open mold to receiving position close to said moldmember from which the casting is ejected, said members having means for engaging and catching the casting after it is ejected from said mold member.

5. In a casting machine, a frame, relatively movable mold members, take-out mechanism including a swinging actuating member movable relative to the mold members, lifting means movably supported by said member, and means for giving the lifting-means independent swinging movements relative to said member, so as to cause it to move toward and away from the face of one of the mold members.

' 6. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising relatively movable mold members, takeout mechanism including a swinging actuating member movable relative to the mold members, a receiving member movably supported by said actuating member, and means for giving the receiving member independent swinging movements relative to said actuating member, said means including a rocker carried by said actuating member and connected to the receiving member.

7. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising relatively movable mold members, takeout mechanism including an arm adapted to be swung relative to the mold members, a receiving member movably supported by the arm, means for giving the receiving member independent swinging movements relative to the arm, said means including a rocker carried by the arm and connected to the receiving member and means for causing said rocker to be actuated by the swinging movements imparted to the arm.

8. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a pair of movable mold members, casting receiving means, a take-out mechanism including a swinging take-out arm, a lifter pivotally connected with the arm, means for actuating the arm so as to lower the lifter into the mold when open and to elevate it and deposit the casting on the casting receiving means, and means for causing the casting to be moved from the mold to the lifter.

9. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a pair of movable mold members, casting receiving means, a take-out mechanism including a swinging take-out arm, a lifter pivotally connected with the arm, means for actuating the arm so as to move the lifter into the mold and then out of the mold and to cause it to deposit the casting on the receiving means, and a movable stacking member actuated by the arm and adapted to move the castings along the receiving means.

10. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a pair of movable mold members. casting receiving means, a take-out mechanism including a swinging take-out arm, a lifter connected with the arm, means for actuating the swinging arm so as to move the lifter into the mold and to remove it therefrom and deposit the casting on the receiving means, and means operating in predetermined timed relation with the take-out mechanism for causing the ejection of the casting from one of the mold members, thereby causing it to be engaged and received by the lifter. A

11. In a casting machine, a frame, stationary and movable mold members, casting receiving means at the top of'the frame, take-out mechanism mounted at the top of the frame and including a pair of swinging arms, and a pair of casting receiving lifting members carried by the arms for receiving the casting from said mold and delivering the same onto the casting receiving means.

12. In a casting machine, a frame, stationary and movable mold members, casting receiving means at the top of the frame, take-out mechanism mounted at the top of the frame and including a pair of swinging arms, apair of casting receiving lifting members for delivering the casting onto the casting receiving means, the lifting members being pivotally supported at the free ends of the arms, and'means actuated when the arms are in different positions to give swinging movements to thelifting members.

13. In a casting machine, a frame, stationary and movable mold members, casting receiving means, take-out mechanism including a pair of swinging arms, a pair of casting receiving lifting members for delivering the casting onto the casting receiving means, the lifting members being pivotally supported by the arms, and means actuated when the arms are in different positions to give swinging movements to the lifting members, said means including a rocker connected to the lifting members and carried by one of the arms and adapted to be rocked when the arms are moved in opposite directions.

14. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, the mold having a pouring gate, a water valve and piping for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto molten metal in the gate, means connected to the movable mold member for moving it to and from closed position, an ejector for ejecting the casting from the mold, casting receiving take-out mechanism having means for receiving and positively moving the casting from the mold, means for causing said parts to operate, and means for stopping the machine on the completion of the cycle of operations.

15. In a casting machine,-a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, the mold having a pouring gate, means comprising a water valve and piping for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto molten metal in the gate, means connected to the movable mold member for moving the same to and from closed position, an ejector for ejecting the casting from the stationary mold member, take-out mechanism for receiving and delivering a casting from the open mold, motor driven means including two shafts for operating said parts, and means for successively starting and stopping said shafts.

16. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means comprising a water valve and piping for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto molten metal poured into the mold, means connected to the movable mold member for moving the same to and from closed position, an ejector for ejecting the casting from the stationary mold member, take-out mechanism for receiving and delivering a casting from the open mold, motor driven means for actuating said parts including two shafts, driving means there for, and a clutch controlled by one of the shafts for starting the other shaft.

17. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means comprising a water valve and piping for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto molten metal poured into the mold, means connected to the movable mold member for moving the same to and from closed position, an

ejector for ejecting the casting from the stationary mold member, take-out mechanism for receiving and delivering a castingfrom the open mold, motor driven means for actuating said parts including two shafts, a clutch actuated by one of said shafts for controlling the rotation of one of said shafts, and an automatically actuated clutch for stopping the other shaft.

18. In a casting machine of the semi-automatic type, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means connected to said movable mold member for operating the same, means comprising a valve for delivering a predetermined amount of water on metal poured into the mold, a casting ejector cooperating with the stationary mold member, casting receiving and delivery means including a part movable into the open mold for receiving the casting and for positively moving the same from between the mold members, power driven means for actuating all of said parts, a manually operable member for initiating the cycle of operations, and means for automatically stopping said power driven means when the cycle of operations is completed.

19. In a casting machine of the semi-automatic type, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means connected to said movable mold member for operating the same, means comprising a valve for delivering a predetermined amount of water on metal poured into the mold, a casting ejector cooperating with one of the mold members, casting receiving and delivery means, power driven means for actuating all of said parts, a manually operable member for initiating the cycle of operations, and automatic clutch actuating means for stopping said power driven means when the cycle of operations is completed, said power driven means including two shafts the starting and stopping of one of which is controlled by the other.

20. In a casting machine of the semi-automatic type, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a, movable mold member, means connected to said movable mold member for operating the same, means comprising a valve for delivering a predetermined amount of water on metal poured into the mold, a casting ejector cooperating with one of the mold members, casting receiving and delivery means, power operated means for actuating all of said parts, a manually operable member for initiating the cycle of operations, automatic means for stopping said power operated means when the cycle of operations is completed, said power operated means including two shafts one of which is operated more rapidly than the other, and clutch means controlled by the'more slowly rotating shaft for causing the other shaft to be started and then stopped when it has made a complete revolution while the second shaft is still rotating.

21. In a casting machine of the semi-automatic type, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means connected to said movable mold member for operating the same, means comprising a valve for delivering a predetermined amount of Water on metal poured into the mold, a casting ejector cooperating with one of the mold members, casting receiving and delivery means, power operated means for actuating all of said parts, a manually operable member for initiating the cycle of operations, automatic means for stopping said power operated means when the cycle of operations is 75 completed, said power operated means including two shafts one of which is operated more rapidly than the other, clutch means controlled by the more slowly rotating shaft for causing the other shaft to be started and then stopped when it'has made a complete revolution while the second shaft is still rotating, and clutch means controlled by the more slowly rotating shaft for causing said power operated means to be stopped when the cycle of operations is completed.

22. In a casting machine, a frame, a mold comprising a stationary mold member and a movable mold member, means including a water valve for causing the delivery of a predetermined amount of water onto the molten metal in the mold, an ejector, a take-out mechanism for the castings, and power operated means including two shafts, one of said shafts having means for actuating the movable mold member, the ejector, and the take-out mechanism, and the second shaft having means for controlling the rotation of the first-mentioned shaft, for actuating the water valve, and for stopping the power operated means when the cycle of operations is completed.

23. In a casting machine, a mold comprising relatively movable mold members adapted to receive molten metal, means for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto the molten metal in the mold comprising a ,valve and piping extending from the valve to the mold, and means for creating'a suction on the water delivery part of the piping when the valve is closed.

24. In a casting machine, a pair of relatively movable mold members having a moldcavity adapted to be filled with molten metal, the cavity having a. pouring gate, means for delivering a predetermined amount of water onto the metal in the pouring gate comprising a valve, piping extending from. the valve to the mold, and branch piping for creating a siphoning eifect to suck the water from the delivery part of the piping when the valve is closed, thereby preventing water from dripping into the pouring gate after the valve is closed.

25. In a machine for casting articles having laterally projecting lugs, a mold comprising relatively movable mold members, means for opening and closing the mold, means for ejecting the casting from the mold, and take-out mechanism including members adapted to be moved downwardly into the open mold to receiving position, said' members having hook-like portions for engaging under said. lugs when the casting is ejected.

26. In a casting machine, a mold comprising a pair of relatively movable mold members adapted to be opened and closed, means for ejecting the casting from the mold, take-out mechanism movable into the open mold for receiving a casting and for delivering it from the space between the mold members, said take-out mechanism. comprising a pair of arms mounted for swinging movement and having hook-like portions at their lower ends for catching the casting when it is ejected from the mold.

HARRY B. LOCKWOOD. ALFRED R. WILLARD. 

